Okies, sorry for the delay, but this was a hard chapter to write, and I'm still not quite sure how good it is, so just let me know, okay? Anyways, hope you enjoy it.
Eight
Raditz and the other four Saiyans stumbled slightly when they materialised again, not being used to Goku's instant transmission technique.
"What the …" Raditz trailed off as he recognised the halls of the Saiyan residence in Hell. "How …?"
"No time for that," Goku told him brusquely. "Where's your dad Vegeta?"
Vegeta was already looking around. "He's close. He's with Nappa and …" Vegeta snarled. "Frieza and Babadi are there."
"What?" Raditz looked shocked. "No, then he truly has sold us out." He thought for a moment. "He must be in the throne room. I think it's this way." Raditz lead them off in one direction but Goku stopped suddenly, looking around in the opposite direction.
"What is it?" Piccolo asked.
"I don't know. There's someone not in the throne room."
"How strong?" Gohan asked.
"Stronger than an average Saiyan. Almost as strong as Vegeta's father."
"Bardock," Toura grinned. He looked over in the direction Goku was looking and turned on his scouter. "It is. He's coming towards us quickly."
Just as Toura finished that sentence, Bardock rounded the corner so quickly he had no time to react to the presence of the Saiyans and ran straight into Goku, making both of them stumble back holding their heads in pain.
"Hey, watch it," Goku grumbled as Bardock lay on the floor, close to unconsciousness from the impact with the thick skull of his unknown-to-him son.
"What in Hell is going on?" Bardock demanded as Fasha helped him up. He gasped seeing Vegeta. "Prince Vegeta!" He bowed low. "It is an honour sir. Allow me to offer the services of myself and my crew."
"There's no time for that," Vegeta snapped. "Let's get moving. It may be almost too late to save Trunks."
"No, there's still time. They just took away King Vegeta and the others to the throne room. I was on my way to find you in fact when I ran into you."
"Sorry about that," Goku grinned and held out his hand sheepishly. "My name's Goku, by the way."
Bardock paled. "Goten talked about you."
"Really? You've seen him? Is he all right?"
"Fine, it's Trunks I'm worried about." Bardock was staring at Goku in amazement. "You're exactly as I envisioned you when you took on Frieza." Bardock took a closer look around and inhaled sharply again when he saw Piccolo. "And you … weren't you two enemies?"
Piccolo looked at Bardock a bit strangely. "Now isn't the time to be reminiscing. We should go. Vegeta, it's your call."
"Talk on the way to the throne room. Raditz, take the lead." Raditz nodded and bowed and led everyone away to the throne room, Vegeta striding alongside him with Gohan, Piccolo and Krillin behind him and the other Saiyans and Goku taking the rear.
"So you've seen me before?" Goku asked curiously.
"Not seen exactly. I had visions." Goku nodded, accepting this and studied the man walking beside him very closely. He looked very similar to him. Bardock smiled at him. "You're quite a warrior. I'm very proud."
Goku looked confused. "Proud?"
Bardock laughed. "Guess you wouldn't recognise your own father."
Goku stopped in the middle of the hallway and gaped at the older Saiyan. "Father?" he yelled incredulously. "You're my father?"
Bardock nodded. "You've raised quite a strong son as well."
"Actually," Goku looked away, catching up again, "I didn't raise Goten. I was dead when he was born. My wife and eldest son raised him to be the boy he is today. But that doesn't mean I love him any less." Goku smiled at his father. "After all, it wasn't really my fault I couldn't be there, just like many other situations I've come across."
"Indeed." Bardock smiled and nodded. He looked ahead. "Is that your eldest?" He nodded towards Gohan.
"Yeah. He's one of the strongest fighters in the universe, alongside Vegeta and myself."
"And the two young ones."
Goku nodded, his expression fading. "We can't let them die. I'd never forgive myself if I wasn't there for Goten now and as for Vegeta …" Goku looked up at his prince and looked away, pain in his eyes. "Vegeta doesn't show it, but he cares more deeply for his family than anything else. Seeing them hurt would kill him, after he'd killed whoever hurt them."
"A rather odd position for any Saiyans to admit."
"Well, we're not your run-of-the-mill Saiyans, you'll soon discover."
Bardock grinned. "I'm looking forward to seeing just how different you are." They approached the huge doors that led to the throne room. The scouters and the fighter's senses went haywire at the presence of such high powered enemies so close.
"This is it," Krillin murmured nervously.
"It is," Vegeta agreed, steeling himself and gathering his power. He could sense the entire Saiyan race was behind these doors. H would be once again among his people. Though this time, he would be standing against them rather than with them. "Let's go."
The door to the throne room burst open.
Bardock paled as he saw the exact scene as his vision. The four women were kneeling before the throne dais. Trunks was on the floor, Goten standing above him pleading with the person trying to take the throne from King Vegeta, who stood chained to one side.
"Nappa," Vegeta called out in an icy voice. Everyone turned at the intrusion and the man standing before Goten and Trunks lifted his head and grinned.
"Prince Vegeta. How very pleasant it is to see you. It is unfortunate however that you must soon leave us." Nappa snapped his fingers and guards surrounded the group of fighters.
Goku and Gohan rolled their eyes while Krillin yawned and Piccolo smirked slightly. The Saiyans put themselves on guard, but Vegeta kept walking towards the dais, sending four guards flying with a single flick of his wrist.
"You won't be able to get rid of me that easily."
"Vegeta, that arrogance never changes does it." Frieza stepped out from the shadows with a grin. Some of the Saiyans looked stunned and some muttered darkly about a double cross. Vegeta smirked slightly. It seemed like Nappa hadn't told everyone about his dealings with Frieza and the others.
"You never were very intelligent were you Nappa." Vegeta continued to walk forward, ignoring Frieza and the others who stepped out from behind Nappa. "You know that if you survive me, you'll have a riot on your hands once every Saiyan here realises you've sold them out."
There were more mutterings and some Saiyans stepped towards the throne, held back by their peers. Vegeta glanced over at the gathered forces near Nappa. "Not to mention you don't choose your allies very well. You do realise we're much stronger than all of them combined."
Babadi glared. "You know I can increase their power exponentially Vegeta with a mere agreement."
"It still won't help you, not now. You've pissed me off too much." Vegeta glared and he raised his power enough for his eyes to shimmer blue-green. "It would be advisable for you to let them go."
Nappa smirked. "I can kill the boy before you even move. Would you risk him?"
Vegeta stopped in his tracks, a very dark expression crossing his face. "Not a smart move to make, crossing a Super Saiyan." Nappa had only a second to look incredulous before Vegeta gathered his power and transformed. Nappa looked stunned and stepped away from the hostages.
"Impossible!"
Vegeta walked towards him again, fire in his eyes. "You were saying?" He smirked as Nappa backed away to the other door of the throne room. "Coward," he spat. "And you wonder why I killed you."
There was an uproar of sound at this revelation. Nappa had spread the word that he had been killed by Earth's Hero, a legitimate sounding boast, considering he dies on Earth. But this ... this only proved that he was indeed a traitor to the Saiyan race if the Prince had killed him.
Frieza turned to Nappa. "You're loosing your bargaining chips Nappa. I think I'll be leaving now. I'm not in the mood for a scuffle like this.' Frieza turned away, as did Nappa's other allies, leaving Nappa alone on the throne dais, save for the prisoners.
Vegeta stood among the Saiyan masses, smirking. "And here I thought winning without throwing a punch was a romantic earthling ideal." He shrugged and climbed the dais, standing before Nappa, who shrunk back slightly in fear. Without warning, he drew back his fist and smashed Nappa in the face, sending him through several walls and over the landscape to crash into a large rock pillar, causing it to fall on top of him.
"Weakling," Vegeta muttered and turned to kneel down beside Goten and look over Trunks with worry.
"This isn't good," he murmured. The others ran up to the front of the room. Gohan grabbed Videl in a huge hug, while Goku embraced Chi-Chi. Krillin ran to his wife and kissed her on the cheek.
Bulma sat down beside Vegeta. "What's wrong?" Vegeta looked over at her then at Goten who still sat looking down at his best friend.
"His injury is severe. He needs medical attention." Vegeta turned to Goku. "Do you have any senzu beans?"
Gou shook his head. "But I can take him to Kami's lookout and get Dende to heal him." Vegeta nodded and lifted Trunks up in his arms.
The boy stirred slightly and opened his eyes. "Dad?"
Vegeta smiled down at him. "Don't worry Trunks, we're going to get Dende to heal you now."
"I'm glad you came dad, I knew you would." Trunks smiled then drifted back into unconsciousness. Vegeta got up and walked over to Goku who placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll be back guys," Goku promised.
"Wait." The two Saiyans looked over at King Vegeta, who was now unbound and walking over to them. "Thank you for your help." He looked at his son with a smile. "Your actions have saved us from total annihilation."
Goku grinned. "Well, we didn't do much, it was Vegeta."
"I know. I'm proud of you son."
"Thank you father. Look after my wife while I'm gone." Vegeta smiled slightly then looked at Goku who nodded. The two of them disappeared suddenly as Goku transported them to Kami's lookout, leaving the stunned and slowly recovering Saiyan race behind.
AN: Well, hope you liked that. Sorry for the shortness. This fic is coming to an end soon, in one or two chapters. Just thought I'd give you a bit of warning.
Laters.